Ottawa Senators storylines to look at in 2026

OTTAWA — 2025 was a banner 12 months for the Ottawa Senators, transitioning from years of distress and despair to long-awaited playoff wins. But they nonetheless carry loads of anguish heading into the brand new 12 months.

So, what does 2026 have in retailer for the Senators?

Well, as a result of we will’t see into the long run, this is a take a look at what we suppose would be the 10 most fascinating storylines for the Senators in 2026.

1. Playoffs or bust! And the dominoes that fall

The Senators are strolling the Eastern Conference tightrope, sitting solely 4 factors out of a playoff spot, with Moneypuck.com giving them a 42 per cent probability of climbing again into the post-season. Making the playoffs is the expectation, and the correlated presumption is that normal supervisor Steve Staios will add to his roster on the deadline, not subtract. They aren’t in “all-in” territory, however with Brady Tkachuk having a most of three playoff runs left on his contract, the time is now.

If the Senators make it — and in the event that they make sufficient noise — it might imply that by subsequent fall, we hear “Cup” whispered across the nationwide capital area. If the Senators don’t make it, do heads roll? Does administration preach endurance but once more, or are followers one more retool? Choose your Senators’ journey.

2. Will the Senators get sufficient saves to grow to be an elite group?

Every single analytic would inform you the Senators are an elite group, from Corsi to anticipated targets and even the attention take a look at. The Senators persistently outshoot, out-chance and out-possess groups, a tough factor to do within the NHL. But they’re final in group save share.

It’s not all on the goalies, however no group can go far within the playoffs with out strong goaltending. Whether it’s Linus Ullmark — who’s take a private depart of absence — Leevi Merilainen or one among their AHL emergency call-ups, the Senators can’t have the second-best goaltender on most nights, which has been the scenario of late. The challenge may make or break this period of Senators hockey, regardless of all its expertise and promise.

3. Will the Senators get their first-round decide again?

As of this, the final day of 2025, the Senators are in line for the Tenth-overall decide within the 2026 draft. But that draft choice would vanish just like the reminiscence of the Joonas Korpisalo period in Ottawa.

The Senators group nonetheless believes there’s a probability it will possibly reclaim the draft decide it misplaced as punishment for the botched Evgenii Dadonov commerce in 2021. In 2014, the New Jersey Devils have been presupposed to lose their decide as a result of they tried to bypass the wage cap to signal Ilya Kovalchuk, however that punishment was transformed to getting the final choice within the first spherical, at decide 30. The stakes in a 12 months with a powerful draft class are vital for the membership’s future.

The narrative surrounding Tkachuk’s future in Ottawa will hinge on the result of this season and the beginning of subsequent season. At the tip of 2026, Tkachuk might be 18 months away from free company. If the sense is that Tkachuk desires to re-up within the nation’s capital, it might result in Staios changing into ultra-aggressive. While if Tkachuk is non-committal about his future in Ottawa, the Senators can be in fairly a predicament.

A call must be made as as to if to commerce their captain for an immense Quinn Hughes-esque bundle or the Senators might attempt to go all-in to win a Cup in 2027 and 2028, the ultimate years of Tkachuk’s deal.

More than the attainable return, contextually, there are parallels with the Hughes scenario in Vancouver: one other star American captain in a Canadian metropolis, and Tkachuk’s want to remain will seemingly hinge on whether or not the group is in a competition window. The quantity round Tkachuk is about to be ratcheted up.

Tim Stutzle is taking part in one of the best hockey of his profession, and on a 10-game level streak. He’s on tempo for 40 targets and 88 factors whereas taking part in chic 200-foot hockey, and he’s solely 23 years previous. Since the 2024-25 season, Stutzle is fifth in wins above substitute, in line with Evolving Hockey, behind solely Leon Draisaitl, Thomas Harley, Connor McDavid and David Pastrnak. If Stutzle maintains his elite play, it modifications the entire dynamic of how good the Senators might be — now and till his contract ends, in 2031.

6. Jake Sanderson cements himself as a top-five defenceman on this planet.

In lower than a 12 months, Sanderson went from an underexposed elite expertise to an integral a part of the Senators’ and Team USA’s backend. Sanderson is a defensive stalwart who has blossomed into an amazing power-play quarterback and offensive gem. He’s on tempo to set profession highs in each statistical offensive class, whereas main one of the best defensive pairing within the NHL alongside Artem Zub, in line with Moneypuck. Every 12 months, Sanderson has gotten higher — why wouldn’t it be totally different in 2026?

7. Will the Senators add a top-six ahead or a top-four right-shot defenceman?

The theme every time the commerce deadline looms in Ottawa is what ought to Staios prioritize: Adding a top-six ahead or a top-four defenceman? In an excellent world, each. But with out many picks or prospects this 12 months, it’s as much as Staios to tug a rabbit out of his hat.

Right now, the group is ninth in targets for and eighth in five-on-five targets per recreation. The downside isn’t scoring, however who must be paired with Thomas Chabot? With Nick Jensen regressing and Jordan Spence higher for third-pairing minutes, the Senators ought to concentrate on including one other right-shot defenceman. That resolution might be entrance of thoughts come the deadline and into the 2026 low season.

Pinto is on a 35-goal tempo this season and he already has two 20-goal seasons over his profession. His taking pictures share is the best of his profession at 17 per cent, however just one per cent greater than final season. In 2026, we’ll discover out if Pinto is that elite sniper or if he is simply on a roll. His 30-plus objective contact on the third line might elevate the Senators to a different tier.

The Buffalo Sabres are flying excessive with Josh Norris, and the Senators should not with Dylan Cozens. The ultimate phrase on final season’s commerce between division rivals received’t be identified for a while, however Cozens has been good this season, not nice. Sixteen of Cozens’ 29 factors have come on the facility play — he merely hasn’t produced sufficient offence at five-on-five. With each Stutzle and Pinto elevating, Cozens’ play is instantly an X-factor for Ottawa’s success in 2026.

Zeev Buium, Zayne Parekh and Sam Dickinson have all performed within the NHL. Yakemchuk has not. Yet Yakemchuk was chosen above the opposite three in 2024. He has produced factors within the AHL and was main in rookie defenceman scoring earlier than a latest damage.

Nevertheless, his defence and his skating are works in progress. The Senators have an enormous gap on the suitable aspect of their defence, and Yakemchuk was drafted to fill it. At the second, the Senators might certainly use a talented, rugged right-shot defenceman like him. His progress in 2026 might result in main dividends for the Senators, or some main what-ifs.